Transporting mechanism for hoisting machines



Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,698 R. M. LOVEJOY TRANSPORTING MECHANISM FOR HOISTING MACHINES Original Filed July 12, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

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' Ralph M. Love joy M wkw,

R. M. LOVEJOY TRANSPORTING MECHANISM FOR HOISTING MACHINES Original Filed July 12, 1.922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2. f

\nven'for. Ralph M. Love 'oy b mwkfwmz Aflys.

Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

outrun STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

RALPH 1M. LOVEJOY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO LEWIS-SHEPARD COMPANY, OF WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHU- SETTS.

TRANSPORTING MECHANISM. FOR HOISTING MACHINES.

Original application filed July 12, 1922, Serial No. 574,517. Divided and this application filed February This invention relates to improvements in 5 supported upon anti-friction ground-contacting supports and the other end upon frictional grouiid engaging supports with awheel steering mechanism having a tongue and operable by the vertical swinging movement of the tongue when the tongue is in any steering position to raise and to support the front end of the .me out of engagement with the ground, whereby the machine can be readily transported from one place to another.

A further object of the invention is to provide a steering meehanism'for the front end of a hoisting machine of the character described with lifting mechanism. operable by the vertical swinging movement of the tongue which will lift and support the front end of the frame upon the steering mecha nism and permit the handle to be freed for the purpose of freely steering the truck.

A further object of the invention is to provide a. lifting mechanism for the front end of the truck of the character described in which the handle may be employed not only to pull the machine, but also to push the machine when the front end of the frame is raised and supported out of engagement with the ground.

More specifically the object of the inven-- tion to provide a hoisting machine com prising a frame having wheels for supporting the rear end of the frame and legs normally supporting the front end of the frame with a steering wheel having a post rotatably and axially mounted on the frame and pro vided with a steering tongue with lifting means operable by the verticah swinging movement of the tongue to move the steering post axially relatively to the frame and thereby raise the front end of the frame free from the ground when the tongue is in any steering position, thereby permitting the hoisting machine to be transported from place to place.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a lifting mechanism comprising a toggle construction operable by the vertical swinging movement of the tongue which will serve not only to lift the front end of the frame free from the ground, but also to Serial No. 7,507.

improvements in hoisting machines filed J uly The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which, a

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an elevating truck of the tiering machine type-embodying the invention, the hoisting mechanism being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a detail side elevationupon an enlarged scale of a portion of the frame, the

steering mechanism and lifting mechanism operableby the tongue, showing the same as supporting the frame in elevated position with the tongue connected to the lifting mechanism, a portion of the tongue being shown in vertical section; and,

Fig. 3' is a similar view showing the tongue disconnected from the elevating mechanism.

The invention is disclosed herein as embodied in a hoisting machine of the type generally known as tiering machines, but it will be understood that it is equally applicable to other forms of hoisting devices such as hand trucks adapted to be placed beneath a device to be transported and the frame of the hoisting device raised thereby raising the device to be transported from its engagement with the ground or floor after which it may be drawn or pushed to any desired place and again deposited upon the ground or floor.

The hoisting device ill'ustrz-ited in the accompanying drawings comprises a main frame having side bars 1, preferably of channel form, connected by a central transverse girder 2 which preferably is also of channel form and rests upon and is secured to the inner flanges of the side bars 1, and a front transverse girder 3 which preferably isof channel form and rests upon and is secured to the upper flanges of the side bars 1.

Brackets 4t, secured to the rear ends of the side bars 1 are provided with suitable journals to receive a shaft 5 having wheels 6 which support the rear end of the frame. A pair of legs 7, which are secured to the front cross girder 3, normally serve to support the fi at end of the frame. A pair of vertical guiding standards desirably are supported centrally of the main raine and are secured to the cross girder 2. These standards desirably are made in foldable sections connected by hinges.

As illustrated herein the upper ends of the lower sections 8 of the standards are 11'0- vided with forwardly extending; hinge members 9 which are pivotally connected by a transverse shaft 10 to acompl'ementary pair of hinge members 11 which are similarly secured to the lower ends of upper standard sections 12 which are adapted when in vertical position to rest upon the upper ends of the sections 8 and extend in axial alinemcnt therewith. Brace rods 13 desirably are connected at their upper ends to the shaft 10 and at their lower ends fixedly secured to the ride bars 1.

Suitable means are provided for detachably securing the standard sections in vertical alinement. forms the subject matter of a divisional application and need not be described herein.

Load supporting means are arranged to be moved vertically upon and guided by the vertical standards and suitable hoisting; mechanism is provided for elevating the load supporting means.

In the preferred construction illustrated herein the load supporting means is in the form of a carriage having a vertically movable frame slidably mounted upon said standards and provided with a horizontal platform. The carrii-ige frame comprises vertical side mei'nbers 14., preferably channel bars, which are located upon the oi'iitsides of the vertical standards and adjacent thereto and are connected by cross members 15 and 16. llhe carriage frame also comprises l..-shaped platform siu'rporting members the vertical arms 1.? of which are riveted to the vertical members i l and the horizontal members 18 of which form the girders of the platfm'ni. The platform may he provided with any suitable support for the articles which are to be ele vated. As illustrated herein a pair of angle plates 19' and 20 restupon and connect the girders 18 and are provided with journals to receive a series of rollers 21 which enable heavy articles readil to be loaded upon and unloaded from the platform.

Flanged wh els 22 mounted upon suitable brackets on the girders 14 are arranged to,

engage the rear face of the vertical standards 8 and flanged wheels 23 n'iountec i suitable brackets 24 upon the side members 14.- ot the carriage engage the front faces ot the vertical standards, thus providing anti-friction The locking: means. however,

means for supporting and guiding the platform in its vertical movement.

Any suitable means may be employed for r ising the platform such as a cable 25 vattached to the platform carriage and passing over a sheave 26 suitably moimted at the upper end of the standard sections 12 with a suitable Windlass (not shown) for winding up and unwinding the cable. The hoisting mechanism desirably is of the character disclosed in the prior application of which the present application is a division and need not be described herein.

The present invention relates particularly to a novel mechanism for raising the front end of the frame so that it will be supported upon suitable steering mechanism with the legs 7 of the frame removed from the floor a sullicient distance to permit the hoisting machine to be transported from place to place a truck either when loaded or unloaded.

As illustrated herein the steering mechanism comprises a front steering wheel. 27 which is mounted upon an aide 28 in the fork 29 of a steering post 30 which is rotatably and slidably journalled in a bracket 31 which preferably is secured to a standard 32 which is mounted at its lower end upon the cross girder 8 and is connected its upper end by suitable fran'iework 33 to the vertical standards 8. The framework may be employed to support a suitable motor for actuating the windl-ass as is disclosed in the original application of which this is a division.

A collar is fixedly secured to the upper end of the steering post 0 and is provided with a pair of uljiwardly extending which carry a transverse shaft 36 upon which the steering tongue and a member of the lifting meehanismfor the trans is pivotally mounted.

The steering tongue desirably is made in telescopically movable sections one of which con'iprises a tubular member 257 ha. I arms 38 which are i iivotally mounted upon the shaft 36 outside of the cars on the collar 34s. The arms :38 desiralily are provided with extenrdons pnting; sl-ioulders 39 so formed to engage stop shoulders 4C0 upon the collar when the tongue is -sod ne rly to vertical position. The en nt of the shoulders 39 of the arms 38 the stops alt; serve to prevent the steering; tongue from swi ing; wardly beyond a prcdetern'iined nee and also provide means for arresting the upward movci'ljicnt of the tongue in a position in which it can be used to push the tii'uck rear-- wardly when the l.....idle is in any steering position.

The other section ll of the ton ue. which desirablyis o ubular form andprovidedwith the usual transverse handle 42, is slidably mounted at its lower end ii. the tubular member 37. The tongue member ll is provi .2 with a trans *ersely {intern-ling pin which extends into oppositely disposed slots 44 in the tubular member 37 so that the tongue section 41 may have a short longitudinal telescopic movement relatively to the tubular member 37 of the tongue. The purpose of this longitudinal movement is to provide means for releasably locking the vertical swinging tongue to the lifting mecnanisn'i when it is desired to raise or to lower the front end of the frame as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The invention contemplates broadly the provision of means operable by the vertical swinging movement of the tongue to cause relative longitudinal movement between the frame and the steering wheel which will elevate the front end of the platform to a sulfl- :ient height to raise the legs 7 of the frame the desired dish-111cc from the ground or floor.

The preferred form of lifting mechanisnr for the front end of the frame, which is illustrated herein comprises a toggle construction cor sisting of a bell crank lever 45 which is pivotally mounted upon. the shaft 36 of the steering post ears, one end of the bell crank lever being flexibly connected to the frame, preferably to the standard 32, and the other arm of the bell crank lever being adapt-ed to be detachably connected to the steering tongue. In the construction illustrated the reaiwardly extending arm of the bell crank lever is pivotally connected to the lower end of a link 46 the upper end of which is pivotally connected to a swivel 47 the stem 48 of which is r tatably mounted in a bracket 49 which is secured to the vertical standard 3 The axis of the stem 48 of the swivel desirably is in alinement with the axis of the steering post. The other arm 50 of the bell crank lever is so constructed and positioned as to engage a shoulder 51 upon the inner endof the tubular member 87 of the steering tongue. The member 41 of the steering tongue when forced inwardly as far as is permitted by the sliding movement of the pin 43 in the slot 44 engages beneath the end of the bell crank arm 50 and thereby locks said arm securely to the steering tongue.

In the normal position of the hoistmg machine when the legs 7 are resting upon the floor the pivotal connection between the end of the bell. crank lever and t link 46 is 11G. swung inwardly toward the finale of the hoisting machine in such a manner as to col laps-e the toggle as illustrated in Fig. l. The legs of the fran'ie thus resting upon the ground or floor will prevent movement of the truck during the raising and lowering of the platform. Vi hen the frame of the truck is thus in lowered position the shoulder 51 of the tubular tongue section 3? is engaged by the arm 50 of the, bell crank'lever and the tubular member 41 of the tongue retained in elevated position as illustrated in Fig. 1. the sliding member 41 of the tongue normally being held in its downwardly telescoped position by the force of gravity. When it is desired to raise the front end of the frame upon the steering mechanism to lift the legs 7 from the floor so that the hoisting machine can be transported'from place to place, the operator swings the tongue downwardly thereby rocking the bell crank lever 45 about its pivot until the pivotal connection of the arm of the bell crank lever to the link 46 swings across the plane of the axes of the steering post 30 and swivel stem 48 (which are in substantial alinement) and until the arm 50 of the bell crank lever engages a shoulder or stop v52 upon the steering post head'34. The toggle is therefore locked in extended position.

During this movement of the tongue a relative movement is produced between the steer ing mechanism and the frame and as the wheels of the steering mechanism rest upon the floor the frame is consequently raised from the floor and its weight supported upon the steering mechanism. VVh-en the frame is thus raised and the toggle locked in extended position the slidable member 41 of the tongue may be pulled end-wise so that its end will pass from beneath the end of the arm 50 of the bell crank lever. Thus the tongue is freed from the lifting mechanism and can be raised and lowered as well as swung laterally and may be used conveniently for pulling, pushing or steeringthe truck without disturbing the position of the lifting mechanism. lVhen it is desired to push the truck backwardly the tongue is raised until the shoulders 39 in the ends of the tongue arms 38 enga e the shoulders or stops 40 upon the steering head which prevent further upward movement of the tongue and therefore permit the pushing of the truck when the tongue is in any. steering position.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the invention herein is of an illustrative character and is not restrictive and that the mechanisn'is herein claimed may be adapted for other purposes than in a hoisting machine within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the inveniton, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent. is:

l. A hoisting machine comprising av frame havii'ig rear wheels and front legs to engage the ground. steering i'nechani'sn'i comprising a vertical steering post mounted on the front end of the frame and rotatably and axially movable, a steering tongue pivotally connected to said steering post to have a. vertical. swinging movement and lifting means including a swiveled strut having means connecting its upper end to the frame in substantially axial alinement with the axis of the steering post and a member mounted on said steering post engaging the lower end of said strut and provided with means detachably en move nent ii cal swinging movement of -gn hen in any steer position to move said frame t'il'lllll) relatively to said steern post and thereby raise the it font end of said frame and support the same upon steering mechanism.

2. A hor-itiun' machine conuniisin a frame having lcttl' wliicei; .lld steering mech-aiisin com r steering 'rst mounted on able, a steering tongue pivotzi connected it said steern post to have a ver swir me he inch; struthavi n1 n cans connoctn 2; its .1 J5 U ,1 1. .i. 1 to tire irauie 1n suos-caniiaily ttfilitl with the axis of the steer-ii, a member nounted on so c A gaging the lower end of ca with n'ieans normally po to be engaged by said to. U c i ilfiililllt, is swung vertically upwar a the rrame in lowered p'sitin and operable, by the downward vertical swizr 21 .1% the tongue, when in any s 1 move said steering post do thereby raise the front end of the v that said frai ie is carried upon tln mecha nism, 'lOL means So i re tongue from engagement with sai means to permit d tongue. 9 1 cit. ow ml 1 u. 1 imam, niacaiae compi ism free steering movement or vcrtica .1. P i 4: one end i i post mounted on the 'lr and rotatably and axially njiovabe,

ing tongue pivotally connected to 1 F" ing post to have a vertical swingi ment, a toggle mechanism connec' steerin post to said fram o d having;

reieasably to engage the t 1 means no and operable,

tongue pivolaliv It littlt, post to have a x 1 ii ave toggle mechanism comm,

post to said frame and operal cal swinging movementof s in any steering position to toggle and the front end ox. and when straightened to support a upon the s eering mechanism and me: no disengaging said to ue from said t mechanism when the tront end of the 0. A hoisting machine con'iprising a 1' ame having rear wheels and front legs, steering mechanism comprising a vertical steering post mounted on the front end of said frame and rotatably and axially movable, a steering tongue pivotaliy connected to said steering post to have a v rtical. swinging movement, a

mechanism connecting said steering id frame and opera]; le by the vertical swingi movement of said tongue when in any steering position to raise the front end of said frame ni s ,ipport the same upon the i r l ring nice 1a rism, :4 to disenga ing said tongue from said toggle mechanism when the from end of the frame is supported in elevated position and means upon said tong ie operable to e igage said steering: post when ti o tongue is raised to permit the truck to be pushed with the tongue in any steering POEltlOll.

6. A hoisting machine comprising a frame having rea wheel, and front legs, scoring mechanism having a vertical steering post mounted in said frz-ane and rotatably and aXially movable, a vertically swinging steering tongue comprising a section pivotally mounted on said F-steering post and a section movable longitudinally relatively to said piv otally mounted section, lifting means comprising a member pivotally mounted upon i'aid steering post and connected to said "raiuc and adapted to be detachably engaged etween said pivotally mounted steering tongue section and said longitudinally movable steering ton -vie section when the latter '4 in a predeter Med position and operable by the vertical movement of said tongue to raise tire front end of said frame an l. support tl same upon said steering mechanism.

having rear wheels and front legs, s'eering mechanism hav' g a vertical steering post mounted in said frame and rotatably and ash ally n'i vablc, a vertically swinging steering tongue compri inoa tubular section pivotally mounted on said stee ing post and a section telescopically movable within said pivotally mounted section, lifting means comprising a n'iciubor r ivotally mounted upon said steering post and connected to said frame at one end and h a ving la'S ot icr end positioned to be engaged by sail tongue sections when telescopically moved to a predetermined shortened pos'eition. whereby said lifting means is operable by the vertical swinging movement of tee tongue to arise the front end of said frame and support the same upon said steerins; mechanism.

8, hoisting machine comprising a frame having rear Wheels and front legs, steering mechanism having a vertical steering post mounted on said frame and rotatably and l hoisting machine comprising a fra no axially movable, a vertically swinging steering tongue comprising a section pivotallymounted on said steering post and a section movable longitudinally relatively to said pivotally mounted section, a lifting toggle mechanism connected to said steering post and said frame having means positioned to be engaged between the pivotally mounted section and the end of the longitudinally movable section of the tongue when the latter is in a predetermined position, whereby a vertical swinging movement of the tongue'will actuate the toggle mechanism to raise the he same front end of the frame and support t upon the steering mechanism, said tongue being adapted to bereleased from engagement with said lifting toggle mechanism by longitudinal movement of the movable tongue section when the frame is supported upon the steering mechanism.

9. A hoisting machine comprising a frame having rear wheels and front legs, steering mechanism having a vertical steering post mounted on said frame and rotatably and axially movable, a vertically swinging tongue pivotally mounted upon said steering post, lifting toggle mechanism comprising a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on said steering post to swing about a horizontal axis, a link connected at one end to one arm of said bell crank lever and pivotally connected at its other end to the frame by a swivel the axis of which is in axial alinement with the axis of the steering post, means on said tongue operable detachably to engage the other arm of said bell crank lever and by vertical swinging movement of said tongue to actuate said toggle mechanism to raise the front end of the frame relatively to the steering mechanism and means for limiting the movement of said bell crank lever when the pivotal connection between the arm of said bell crank lever and said link has passed be yond the axial line of said steering post and swivel.

10. A hoisting machine comprising a frame having rear wheels and front legs, steering mechanism having a vertical steering post mounted on the front end of said steering frame and rotatably and axially movable, a vertically swinging tongue comprising a tubular section pivotally mounted on said steering post and a section telescopically mounted in said tubular section, lifting toggle mechanism comprising a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on said steering post to swing about a horizontal. axis, a link connected at one end to one arm of said bell crank lever and pivotally connected at its other end to'the frame by a swivel the stem of which is in axial alinement with the aXis of the steering post, the other end of said bell crank lever being positioned to be engaged by the relatively movable telescoping members of said tongue, whereby the vertical swinging movement of said tongue will actuate said toggle mechanism to raise the frame relatively to the steering mechanism and means for limiting the movement of said bell crank lever when the pivotal connection between the arm of said bell crank lever and link has passed beyond the line of the axes of said steering tongue and swivel, whereby the front end of the frame will be supported upon said steering mechanism and disengagement between the tongue and bell crank lever permitted by relative longitudinal. movement.- of the telescoping members of said tongue.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

RALPH M. LOVEJOY. 

